Evidence of an involvement of TFAP2A gene in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: an Italian study.

Unraveling of factors involved in multifactorial diseases is a great challenge. Different approaches can be contemplate and applied to a variety of congenital malformations. In the present investigation TFAP2A has been considered a good candidate gene for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) aetiology, basing on a sum of considerations. TFAP2A has been seen involved in orofacial development in mice; it is located in the NSCLP candidate region 6p24; it codes for a transcription factor which regulates expression of IRF6, a gene implied in NSCLP; finally, it is embroiled in the branchiooculofacial syndrome, that includes clefting as feature. A family based association analysis was performed with a sample study of 405 NSCLP triads. Evidence of association was obtained with both single marker and haplotype analyses, thus providing a support for TFAP2A in NSCLP aetiology.